Strong performances by the Australian women were important at the Oceania road cycling championships in New Zealand, with precious Olympic qualifying points on offer for the women.

The Australians reigned supreme with clean sweeps in the women's time trial and road race events.

Olympic cycling hopeful Shara Gillow dominated the women's time trial on day one. The 24-year-old clocked 33 minutes and 51 seconds over the demanding 25km course at Queenstown.

She led an Australian clean sweep of the event, with Canberra's Gracie Elvin 1m55s behind and former national time trial champion Bridie O'Donnell third at 2:18.

GreenEDGE-AIS professional Gillow won this year's Australian time trial championship. She was using the Oceania titles to work on her preparation for the event and National women's road coach Martin Barras said the time trial was "an important step in terms of her qualification for the Olympics."

Gillow was eighth in the time trial at the 2010 world titles and finished 12th last year. She is the frontrunner for the London Olympics.

In the road race on day two, mountain bike specialist Elvin put her road talent on show for Jayco-AIS when she out-sprinted Gillow with Rachel Neylan third across the line to complete another Australian clean sweep. All points accumulated in the road race help secure Australia a team of three riders for the women's Olympic road race.

“Queenstown put on a beautiful day for us and it’s very picturesque around here,” said Elvin. “The race was pretty hard. There were some tough hills for us. There were a couple of times they turned into walls.

“There were a lot of attacks we had to cover but everyone was playing cat and mouse a bit today. We tried to keep the bunch moving and keep in control and keep everyone interested. There were a couple of times the group sat up but we had to keep driving to bring the break back.

“I haven’t been able to do many bunch sprints in the last few months so I was a bit nervous coming into that. My teammate Shara (Gillow) set it up and I was able to position myself well and it worked out.”

Gabrielle Vermunt (NZL) took up the challenge on the first of four 25km laps, taking in the major climb up McIntyre’s Hill near Arrowtown, to open up a 1m30s lead. Victorian Bridie O’Donnell took up the chase, catching Vermunt before riding solo at the front for 30kms. The peloton chased her back and as the race started the final lap a bunch of 11 riders was were in front.  There were multiple attacks on the final climb up McIntyre’s Hill with Elvin given the perfect lead-out by teammate Gillow in the sprint to claim the win in a time of 2:12.39.

The top five female nations in road racing earn four Olympic berths, but with Australia currently stuck in ninth place, three positions is the more realistic goal for London 2012. The men's team has already secured a full complement of riders.

Cycling Australia and AAP